Who impressed: MXGP class in Turkey
Tim Gajser: Tim Gajser rode superbly in Turkey. The hard-pack jump infested circuit suited Gajser perfectly and he was on the pace all weekend. In both motos Gajser ran up front, keeping Cairoli in his sights in race one and keeping Herlings in check, for the first time in a long time, in race two. Gajser is showing what could have been had he not had that big injury just before the start of the year. The Slovenian still seems the most likely to get on the KTM duo’s level and it is a shame he won’t be able to show his speed to the US fans at Red Bud with Slovenia announcing they won’t send a team.
Gautier Paulin: The Frenchman hasn’t shown his best form this season usually outside the top five but fourth overall in Turkeubwas a welcome sight for Paulin, the Husqvarna team and no doubt the French MXoN selectors!
Paulin has so much style and talent you feel has the stuff to be regularly o the podium alongside Gajser and Desalle but for whatever reason the results don’t always reflect the talent. But in the second moto Paulin showed he still has the stuff to be front runner when he puts it all together.
Jeremy van Horebeek: It was two Belgians in the top five with Desalle third and a rejuvenated Jeremy Van Horebeek back to form in fifth.
It has been a tough season for Van Horebeek with the Belgian still having no ride for 2019 but Turkey showed he can still put in top five performances and has the pace when everything is going in the right direction. Belgium will be hoping JVH can bring this speed to the Nations as they go for yet another podium and potentially the win!
Shaun Simpson: The Wilvo Yamaha man is really showing what he can do in the ast few races and amazingly, the hard-pack man-made track in Turkey was Simpson’s best points haul of the year! Simpson was leased with his performance but says he wants to end the year on a high after an injury riddled season. Simpson still has no ride sorted for next year but the last few weeks are showing teams he still has what it takes to run with the best guys in the world.
